Rodriguez says he 'confronted' ex-agri exec Sebastian over SO 4

Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez on Tuesday said he "confronted" resigned Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian regarding Sugar Order No. 4 (SO 4), which would've allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

Speaking during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on SO 4, Rodriguez said they learned during an August 10 meeting in Malacañang that the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), through Sebastian, passed a resolution approving the import order without submitting the import plan — the precursor for any sugar order — and knowledge of President Ferdinand "Bongbong Marcos Jr., who is the concurrent Agriculture secretary.

He said Marcos then instructed him to ensure that SO 4 will not come out and is "of no force and effect."

After that, Rodriguez said they went to his office with Sebastian, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, and Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) President Emmie Liza "Molly" Chiong.

"I confronted Usec. Leo Sebastian and asked him why he did such a thing behind the president's back, without the president's knowledge and in an unfair and dishonorable way," Rodriguez told the committee in his opening statement.

Rodriguez then asked Sebastian to call resigned SRA administrator Hermenegildo Serafica and SRA Board Member Roland Beltran and put them on speaker phone to ask them the same thing.

"Ang sagot nya po sa akin, ang naging tugon niya, 'Akala ko po kasi okay na sabi ni Usec. Leo'," Rodriguez quoted Serafica as saying.

Beltran gave the same answer, Rodriguez added.

Sebastian, Serafica and Beltran resigned from their posts days after the SO 4 controversy hit the headlines.

At a hearing at the House of Representatives on Monday, Sebastian said a memorandum issued by Rodriguez on July 15 authorized him to sign documents for Marcos in the latter's functions as DA secretary.

Senators were not able to ask Rodriguez follow up questions as he had to leave early for a Cabinet meeting.

Meetings

Prior to the approval of SO 4, Rodriguez said there were several meetings that were conducted regarding sugar, rice and fertilizer.

On August 4, he said a meeting was held where they were told by Sebastian that SRA has reclassified 62,000 kilograms of sugar from classification "C" to "B."

At the same meeting, Rodriguez said he has asked for an importation plan and a draft sugar order for the proposed importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

“I specifically requested that in the event there’s really a need for the government to import, to resort to another round of sugar importation, I asked for the import plan,” Rodriguez said.

“I also asked who will be accredited, and an answer to our query if the PITC may import on behalf of industrial and for home consumption sugars and finally, if we may be given a draft Sugar Order for the proposed 300,000 metric tons new round of importation,” he added.

Rodriguez said they received a draft sugar order from Serafica and eventually they also received the recommendation to import 300,000 metric tons of sugar from Sebastian.

On August 7 and 8, Rodriguez said Sebastian sent him a text message asking if Marcos has any instructions regarding sugar and fertilizer.

But the Palace official said he "purposely did not respond because these are the matters that are still on the table of the acting secretary of the Department of Agriculture."

150,000 MT sugar imports

Meanwhile, in the same hearing, Rodriguez said Marcos and the SRA board are planning to equally divide the proposed 150,000 metric tons of sugar imports for industrial use and home consumption.

"Kahapon po, August 22, Monday, His Excellency President Ferdinand Marcos [Jr.] administered the oath to the new SRA Board. He also had his first meeting with the new board," Rodriguez said.

"At ang mga naresolba po ay muli nilang pag-uusapan 'yung pagpasa po ng Sugar Order 1 --'yung class of sugar for the incoming crop year -- at pagpasa po ng Sugar Order 2 for the importation of more or less 150,000 metric tons of sugar. Ang hatian po dito 75,000 metric tons for industrial and 75,000 metric tons for home consumption," he added.

The SRA earlier said the Philippines might be allocating all the sugar produced during the next crop year for local use.

SRA Acting Administrator David Alba, who replaced Serafica, said the Sugar Board was directed to immediately come up with Sugar Order No. 1 regarding sugar allocation.

Alba said the Sugar Board, chaired by Marcos in his capacity as DA secretary, recommended that all sugar for crop year 2022-2023 will be classified as “B” sugar or domestic sugar.

The Sugar Board is the governing body of the SRA. —KBK, GMA News